chazraps
Wade Wilson
Better have my money when I come-a collect!
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Post by chazraps on Dec 27, 2016 13:29:00 GMT -5
BTW - Can someone please explain how tipping works in Japan? I've heard it's looked down upon pretty much everywhere but some places, namely Roppongi where I'm staying. How do I tip there? Do I just only pay the number on the bill everywhere else?
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Fundertaker
El Dandy
Hideo Kojima should direct every ending ever!
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Post by Fundertaker on Dec 27, 2016 15:47:36 GMT -5
Well, Roppongi is the night-life district of Tokyo with all it comes with, good or bad, so I can make an educated, if uninformed as far as actual details go, guess at why tipping isn't as looked down upon there.
Other than that: in Japan people working in restaurants, hotels and bars have actual salaries, so they usually don't take the tips for themselves. Therefor, the tips would revert to the establishment which might find it rude since "tipping" is basically an "incentive to be better". So, you're basically saying that you didn't like what being in that establishment. Or at least, that's the general idea behind it all.
If you stay at a ryoukan (a traditional Japanese hotel) it's OK to tip though (old costume going back to pre-Meiji era). However, even tipping has it's quirks there: don't just grab cash from your wallet and give it to the person you want to tip, instead, but a bill inside an envelope and give it (preferably with both hands, as it's more polite) to said person.
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Post by AwamoriRock on Dec 27, 2016 19:02:34 GMT -5
BTW - Can someone please explain how tipping works in Japan? I've heard it's looked down upon pretty much everywhere but some places, namely Roppongi where I'm staying. How do I tip there? Do I just only pay the number on the bill everywhere else? There is no tipping Source: I live here.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2016 3:29:25 GMT -5
Roppongi is pretty much the expat area (I visit once a month as it's the only place in the city where you can get decent fish and chips) it does have some good places I'm a fan of the pink cow bar www.thepinkcow.com/en/home and the train bar www.trainbar.com/trainbar/home.html both nice friendly places to meet fellow tourists or English speaking Japanese people but it can get a bit seedy and sketchy the later the evening goes on. Do not under any circumstances go into a bar a tout on the street recommends. Another fun place for dinner is Gonpachi www.gonpachi.jp/nishiazabu/?lang=en the restaurant that inspired the House of the Blue Leaves in Kill Bill. For daytime stuff there as well as Tokyo Tower there's the Mori arts center which often has decent exhibits and offers good views of the city. Elsewhere Shouben-Yokochou and Golden Gai in Shinjuku are fun places at night. As well as the tipping some other hints I guess would be: Try to avoid taxis, quite expensive (uber is yet to arrive here) and most places of interest are close to each other, the subway is good and English signage has improved a lot over the past few years. A lot of places won't take cards so carry a bit of cash with you, 7/11 and the JP post offices are the two places that accept foreign cards for their ATMs. Japan is a bit weak for free wifi spots, I recently had a bit of domestic travel so used this company for a pocket wifi www.globaladvancedcomm.com/pocketwifi.html they were pretty decent.
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chazraps
Wade Wilson
Better have my money when I come-a collect!
Posts: 27,955
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Post by chazraps on Dec 28, 2016 22:40:59 GMT -5
Again, this has all been super, super helpful!
Any social faux pas I should definitely not do? I just read these are common offensive mistakes gaijin make:
1) Index finger pointing
2) talking on public transit
3) Eating while walking
Anything else?
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Dec 29, 2016 1:02:59 GMT -5
Again, this is all spectacular. Thank you so much! Any suggestions on where to catch some Butoh dance / theater? Been trying to find it online and nothing's coming up. I looked at the websites of two Tokyo-based troups, Sankai Juku and Dairakudakan Kochuten, as well as the Setagaya Public Theatre (where sometimes Butoh is performed). Unfortunately, it looks like none of those do any performances during your stay there. The reason why it is so hard to find something online is because Butoh is still more of an underground performance art than others, therefore, its harder to find any information about upcoming performances.
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Post by Drillbit Taylor on Dec 29, 2016 1:05:27 GMT -5
Try to find her boyfriend. Hes a Japanese Boy
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 29, 2016 6:03:56 GMT -5
Again, this has all been super, super helpful! Any social faux pas I should definitely not do? I just read these are common offensive mistakes gaijin make: 1) Index finger pointing 2) talking on public transit 3) Eating while walking Anything else? -Since there is a chance that for some sightseeing locations or other stuff, you will have to change into slippers, better wear shoes that you can easily put on and off. -If you get the chance to wear a Japanese yukata or similar gear, always wear the left part under the right part (the other way around is reserved for when putting clothes on a dead person before a funeral). -When you eat ramen noodles or other types of noodles, slurp to your heart's content. That's the polite thing to do in Japan because it shows that you like it
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Kalmia
King Koopa
Happy to be here
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Post by Kalmia on Dec 29, 2016 6:15:29 GMT -5
Again, this has all been super, super helpful! Any social faux pas I should definitely not do? I just read these are common offensive mistakes gaijin make: 1) Index finger pointing 2) talking on public transit 3) Eating while walking Anything else? You can talk on public transport, just keep your voice low. You shouldn't make/receive phone calls though. If you smoke, don't smoke while walking down the street. There are many designated smoking areas around, so smoke there. There are still smoking areas in restaurants though Don't get annoyed or angry if someone walks into you/doesn't move out of your way/is generally just getting in your space. People have no sense of spacial awareness, especially when it comes to getting on and off trains, so just roll with it. I live on one of the busiest train lines in Tokyo, and get such train rage during rush hour Before you go, get either the Japan Connected-Free Wi-Fi or TRAVEL JAPAN Wi-Fi apps for your phone. Register with it, then you can use the free wifi at convenience stores and other places. Most train stations have free wifi via their own services, as does Starbucks etc.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 29, 2016 8:01:04 GMT -5
Out of curiosity, chazraps: Which airport will you arrive at, Narita or Haneda Airport?
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chazraps
Wade Wilson
Better have my money when I come-a collect!
Posts: 27,955
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Post by chazraps on Jan 5, 2017 21:03:14 GMT -5
You all seriously helped make this not just one of the best vacations, but one of the most transformative experiences of my life and I can't thank you all enough. I'll do a more detailed post later, but I just got back to Minneapolis and need to eat dinner and sleep. But first I had to say thanks. Please let me know if any of you are coming to Minneapolis or New York. Out of curiosity, chazraps: Which airport will you arrive at, Narita or Haneda Airport? Narita
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2017 0:52:39 GMT -5
You all seriously helped make this not just one of the best vacations, but one of the most transformative experiences of my life and I can't thank you all enough. I'll do a more detailed post later, but I just got back to Minneapolis and need to eat dinner and sleep. But first I had to say thanks. Please let me know if any of you are coming to Minneapolis or New York. Out of curiosity, chazraps: Which airport will you arrive at, Narita or Haneda Airport? Narita Oh, then you had a bit of a trip getting to Tokyo. Anyway, looking forward to your report.
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